Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 El Monte leads 13 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Paterson
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Households earn $7,837 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $283k less ($314,100 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,605)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Monte by $7,837/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 7.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$7,837
$59,929 vs $52,092/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
57% lower
423.2 vs 978.6 per 100k
El Monte
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
7.0% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Paterson
Median Home Value
$283k less
$314,100 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Paterson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Monte leads 13 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 13 and Paterson wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from El Monte to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $314,100 median home), income ($59,929 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Paterson, NJ are about 2,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.